Brand Personality Theory refers to the concept that brands can exhibit human-like characteristics, traits, and qualities, which consumers can relate to, similar to how they perceive and interact with other people (Aaker, 1997). This theory suggests that consumers attribute personalities to brands, allowing them to form emotional connections and preferences based on these perceived characteristics.

Developed by Aaker in the 1990s, Brand Personality Theory posits that brands can possess distinctive personalities that encompass traits, values, attitudes, and behaviors. These personalities are often conceptualized using human personality dimensions, such as the "Big Five" traits:

1. Sincerity: Brands perceived as genuine, honest, and down-to-earth.
2. Excitement: Brands seen as daring, spirited, and imaginative.
3. Competence: Brands known for their reliability, intelligence, and success.
4. Sophistication: Brands associated with elegance, prestige, and glamour.
5. Ruggedness: Brands characterized by toughness, outdoorsiness, and resilience.

Consumers associate brands with these traits based on various brand elements, including advertising messages, visual identity, product quality, endorsements, and overall brand communications. For example, a luxury brand might aim to embody sophistication and glamour through its marketing campaigns and product design, while a rugged outdoor brand might emphasize toughness and resilience.

The theory suggests that establishing and maintaining a consistent brand personality can create a deeper emotional connection with consumers, leading to brand loyalty, positive associations, and differentiation from competitors (Aaker, 1997). Sung & Kim (2010) found that sincerity and ruggedness brand personality dimensions are more likely to influence the level of brand trust than brand affect, whereas the excitement and sophistication dimensions relate more to brand affect than to brand trust. The competence dimension appears to have similar effects on both brand trust and brand affect. Their research showed that brand personality can increase levels of brand trust and evoke brand affect, which in turn builds the level of brand loyalty, making the Brand Personality Theory useful for marketers.

References

Aaker, J. L. (1997). Dimensions of brand personality. Journal of Marketing Research, 34(3), 347-356.

Shetty, K., & Fitzsimmons, J. R. (2022). The effect of brand personality congruence, brand attachment and brand love on loyalty among HENRY's in the luxury branding sector. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 26(1), 21-35.